[RWG] 2,4-d resistant corn

[Krohn, Alison]

If you wish to comment on Dow's petition here is a link:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2010-0103-0001

Comments will be accepted till February 27th.

Appreciate all the comments!


From: Holly Sletteland [mailto:hslettel at calpoly.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 10:19 AM
To: Krohn, Alison; rwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: RE: [RWG] 2,4-d resistant corn

I for one don't think you are overreacting and do think this is a subject that is appropriate for the restoration community to address.  The development of herbicide resistant crops has NOT led to a decrease in the application of these chemicals as the herbicide companies promised, but rather a substantial increase.  This is resulting in more herbicide resistant weeds (let alone other issues such as ground water pollution) reducing the effectiveness of a tool in our toolbox. It's also leading to agricultural fields that are too clean.  The dramatic drop in monarch populations is increasingly believed to be stemming from the loss of milkweed.  Part of it is development to be sure, but a large part of it is the loss of milkweed in agricultural fields where it used to be relatively common.   What other native "weeds" are we losing that are critical to the food chain?  And of course, drift is always an issue with large-scale herbicide applications. It's not supposed to happen, but we all know that it does periodically  with irresponsible applicators.  If you provide contact info, I'll be happy to send an email.

_______________________________________________

Holly Sletteland
Preserve Manager
Morro Coast Audubon Society
PO Box 1507
Morro Bay, CA 93443
805.772.1991 / 805.239.3928
_______________________________________________


From: rwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org [mailto:rwg-bounces at lists.plantconservation.org] On Behalf Of Krohn, Alison
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 6:37 AM
To: rwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: [RWG] 2,4-d resistant corn

Has anyone on the list kept up with or followed the expansion of herbicide resistant crops?  Monsanto is petitioning USDA to approve 2,4-D resistant corn (isn't corn already resistant?).  I'm very concerned about the widespread reintroduction of 2,4-d in response to Roundup resistant "superweeds" and to kill alfalfa (especially roundup ready alfalfa) for rotation into another crop.  I know the organic farming community has been fighting this but what about restoration folks?

We grow native forbs and grasses in Nebraska for seed and experienced 2,4-d drift last spring when an adjacent alfalfa field was sprayed with 2,4-d and glyphosate to rotate into corn.  I can't isolate the herbicide damage from the August dry weather but we did experience a 70% decline in perennial sunflower seed production.  We filed a complaint with our state regulators and after finding the "lost" report they warned the operator not to do it again.  The tissue samples showed evidence of both herbicides on our field.

We use herbicides to manage some troublesome species but we spot spray.  It seems to me the potential impact on roadside refuges of native plant communities may be severe if herbicides like 2,4-d and dicamba are used more frequently.  Have any other agencies or advocates weighed in on the proliferation of herbicide resistant crops and the potential impacts on adjacent native plant communities?  Am I overreacting?

Thanks for your time
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